The HP LP2065 is highly affordable for a 20.1-inch LCD. And it's optimized for everyday work at government agencies'it offers the best text display we tested by far.

The LCD also has a lot of nice features, such as a maximum resolution of 1,600 by 1,200, an 8-millisecond response time and a stand that can rotate and tilt side to side, up and down, and forward or backward. The monitor also shifts from horizontal to vertical, so Web pages or e-books display naturally.

In our evaluation, the LP2065 did a good job displaying most colors, especially greens. However, it was the worst in the review at displaying a gray field, one of the most difficult chores for most monitors. Why might this matter? It depends on your application. If you work heavily with monochrome imaging, say satellite photos, you'll want good grays. Frankly, anyone else would be pleased with this otherwise good, inexpensive performer.